Respect

This keeps coming up in my life. It also is the essence of martial arts. It is about respect for yourself and for others. With respect there would be no need for self-defense but then again I am a dreamer.

What is respect is the question I hope to address in this post because it is important especially when it is used as a tool to accomplish things (more on this later).

I want to cover respect in two-forms, the first is in general as defined by a variety of dictionary source then second, as a martial artists and sensei. In the first we have:

“A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.” A positive feeling of esteem and deference for a person or other entity, specific actions and conduct representative of that esteem. A regard for the actual qualities of one respected. It is also about a persons conduct in accord with a specific ethic of respect. 

This also depends on the perceptions and perspectives of those bestowing respect on another person. Not everyone has a clear cut idea, perception and philosophy that meets this definition of respect. For example, the abilities or qualities or achievements all have different meanings to those who earn respect and to those who bestow respect such as having courage, benevolence, politeness, honesty and sincerity, honor, loyalty, character and self-control. Recognize these examples?

One of the hallmarks of the definition of a traditional martial art is its connection to respect comprised of those examples given in the last paragraph. Again, this brings up the topic of the person or persons bestowing respect and those traits, etc. of the person receiving respect. 

Then we would want to consider other factors of those bestowing, i.e. their cultural philosophical history and background, the cultural influences and requirements of a society, etc. All these may result in respect of a kind that may or may not be respect in another cultural belief system. This makes things very tough. 

Even in one society there are groups that have different standards as to what constitutes respect, i.e. how it is earned and how it is bestowed and so on. Respect can be about survival as well because if you are unable to earn the respect of the others in your group, at any level from high to moderate to low respect, you can be ignored or pushed out of that same group leaving you exposed and vulnerable. 

This brings up the subject of what a person or persons will do or endure to gain the respect of their peers. Again this comes from the form of that respect as seen from a particular social and economic perspective and perception. 

Respect is also a tool to use against someone as an attack but also as a means to go toward violence. How many violent encounters come about due to someone “disrespecting others.” This connects respect to the emotional factor as discussed in the book, “Emotional Intelligence.” 

In martial arts the examples I provided above are used as a guide to practitioners where they learn about one of the four major fundamental principles of martial systems, philosophy. It is what provides a balance in the study of such a model as martial arts where that model is based on the application of physiokinetic and techniques that result in fighting, damage and combatives, etc. If we don’t have a healthy respect for ourselves and for one another as humans then we fall prey to an application of a physical form of violence that does damage to humans and the society to which we belong. 

Respect is important, even critical, in martial arts if for no other reason then it is about contact. A type of contact that is both personal and physical. We have to have respect for one another because training requires we make this type of contact that creates the potential of great damage to both the body and the mind. In martial arts the sensei and the senpai have a huge influence on those practitioners under their tutelage. As one practices in drill and kumite fashion the control and trust and respect that are required between Uke and Tori or Senpai and Kohai is critical to learn, grow and master the arts but also to prevent damage to each practitioner. This type of relationship is impossible without the respect one has for themselves and for those they train and practice with in martial arts. This can be said for any contact discipline be it fighting, combative, defense or sport.

Bibliography: http://isshindo.blogspot.com/2014/07/clarification-on-content.html